2A. Is the state required to provide written warning? Currently, 33 states provide written warning to low-performing schools.

Why does it matter?

Giving written warning provides a formal expectation that a school needs to improve.

A clear track record of notices provides the state department or state board with a clear compilation of communication with the school.

2B. Is the state or other entity required to provide technical assistance? Forty-nine states make provisions for technical assistance.

Why does it matter?

Providing technical assistance assures the low-performing school will be placed on the right track to meet the state requirements for school improvement.

Providing assistance helps the state department or other entity better assess the dimensions of the school's needs.

Staff in low-performing schools may know what to do but lack the capacity to carry it out. Outside supports can help them make needed improvements.

2C. Is the state required to provide additional funding to a low-performing school? At this time, 7 states provide additional funding to a low-performing school.

Why does it matter?

Additional funding could indicate how seriously state policymakers feel about the problem of low-performance.

However, if inadequacies occurred because of administrative mismanagement or inefficient use of dollars, additional funding may not correct the problem.

2D. Is the low-performing school required to create and implement an improvement plan? Forty-four states require low-performing schools to create and implement an improvement plan.

Why does it matter?

If the staff of the school is included in the creation of an improvement plan, the result can be a more thorough and workable plan.

2E. Is another entity, such as the state, required to create an improvement plan for a low-performing school? Twenty-seven states and the District of Columbia hold the low-performing school responsible for developing the initial improvement plan. If the school continues to be low-performing, ten states require another entity to create an improvement plan and eight states require another entity to assist in the development of an improvement plan. Five states require the state, the district or the county board to create the plan.

Why does it matter?

Parental and general public confidence may be heightened when an outside entity creates the improvement plan for a school which has been low-performing for more than a couple of years.

External involvement in an improvement plan may assist the school personnel in understanding the importance of clear and valid objectives for students and the consequences of not meeting the objectives.

Methodology: Policies were collected from state statutes, recently enacted legislation (session laws), and rules and regulations. Where necessary, statewide initiatives created outside of policy were collected from state education agencies. The information will be updated as changes occur.

Last updated: October 2007

Research was conducted by Melodye Bush. Please contact Melodye Bush at 303-299-3631 or mbush@ecs.org with comments or questions about this database.

Alabama

Notification and Supports for Low-Performing High Schools

State required to provide written warning?

Yes

State or other entity required to provide technical assistance?

Yes

State required to provide additional funding to low-performing school?

No

Low-performing school required to create and implement improvement plan?

Yes, after initially being designated as low-performing.

Does another entity, such as the state, have to create an improvement plan for a low-performing school?

Yes, if the school continues to be low-performing, the state superintendent designates a team of practicing professionals to make specific recommendations which become a part of a school improvement plan.

Sources

Notification: ALA. CODE § 16-6B-3; ALA. ADMIN. CODE r. 290-4-1-.01

Alaska

Notification and Supports for Low-Performing High Schools

State required to provide written warning?

Yes

State or other entity required to provide technical assistance?

Yes

State required to provide additional funding to low-performing school?

No

Low-performing school required to create and implement improvement plan?

Yes

Does another entity, such as the state, have to create an improvement plan for a low-performing school?

No

Sources

Notifications: ALASKA ADMIN. CODE tit. 4, § 06.840,06.845,06.852

Arizona

Notification and Supports for Low-Performing High Schools

State required to provide written warning?

Yes

State or other entity required to provide technical assistance?

Yes, the state superintendent of public instruction assigns a solutions team to an underperforming school or a school failing to meet academic standards.

State required to provide additional funding to low-performing school?

No

Low-performing school required to create and implement improvement plan?

Yes

Does another entity, such as the state, have to create an improvement plan for a low-performing school?

No

Sources

Notification: ARIZ. REV. STAT. § 15-241

Arkansas

Notification and Supports for Low-Performing High Schools

State required to provide written warning?

Yes

State or other entity required to provide technical assistance?

Yes

State required to provide additional funding to low-performing school?

Yes

Low-performing school required to create and implement improvement plan?

Yes

Does another entity, such as the state, have to create an improvement plan for a low-performing school?

No

Sources

Notification: ARK. CODE ANN. §§ 6-15-421, 6-15-2201

California

Notification and Supports for Low-Performing High Schools

State required to provide written warning?

Yes

State or other entity required to provide technical assistance?

Yes, districts must contract with a school assistance and intervention team.

State required to provide additional funding to low-performing school?

Yes

Low-performing school required to create and implement improvement plan?

Yes, after initially being designated as low-performing.

Does another entity, such as the state, have to create an improvement plan for a low-performing school?

Yes, if the school continues to be low-performing, an external evaluator approved by the state department of education, in cooperation with a broad-based schoolsite and community team, develops the action plan.

Sources

Notification: ANN. CALIF. CODES §§ 52054, 52055, 52055.5

Colorado

Notification and Supports for Low-Performing High Schools

State required to provide written warning?

Yes

State or other entity required to provide technical assistance?

Yes

State required to provide additional funding to low-performing school?

No

Low-performing school required to create and implement improvement plan?

No, the local board of education must submit a school improvement plan.

Does another entity, such as the state, have to create an improvement plan for a low-performing school?

Local boards are required to submit an improvement plan for schools rated "unsatisfactory."

Unclear. Schools in need of improvement must create a school improvement plan within 90 days of identification, but accountability workbook and other sources do not indicate if such identification must be provided through written warning.

State or other entity required to provide technical assistance?

Yes

State required to provide additional funding to low-performing school?

Yes

Low-performing school required to create and implement improvement plan?

Yes

Does another entity, such as the state, have to create an improvement plan for a low-performing school?

No

Sources

Notification: PUBLIC ACT 99-288

Delaware

Notification and Supports for Low-Performing High Schools

State required to provide written warning?

Yes

State or other entity required to provide technical assistance?

Yes

State required to provide additional funding to low-performing school?

No

Low-performing school required to create and implement improvement plan?

Yes

Does another entity, such as the state, have to create an improvement plan for a low-performing school?

State required to provide additional funding to low-performing school?

No

Low-performing school required to create and implement improvement plan?

Yes

Does another entity, such as the state, have to create an improvement plan for a low-performing school?

Yes, the state board may recommend to the district school board that an improvement plan be implemented.

Sources

Notification: FLA. STAT. ANN. § 1008.33

Georgia

Notification and Supports for Low-Performing High Schools

State required to provide written warning?

No

State or other entity required to provide technical assistance?

Department of education school improvement team is appointed to conduct an on-site audit and make recommendations.

State required to provide additional funding to low-performing school?

No

Low-performing school required to create and implement improvement plan?

No

Does another entity, such as the state, have to create an improvement plan for a low-performing school?

Yes, a department of education school improvement team assists in the creation of the improvement plan which the low-performing school is required to implement.

Sources

Notification: GA. CODE ANN. § 20-14-41

Hawaii

Notification and Supports for Low-Performing High Schools

State required to provide written warning?

Unclear

State or other entity required to provide technical assistance?

Yes

State required to provide additional funding to low-performing school?

No

Low-performing school required to create and implement improvement plan?

Yes

Does another entity, such as the state, have to create an improvement plan for a low-performing school?

No

Sources

Notification: HAW. REV. STAT. ANN. § 302A-1004

Idaho

Notification and Supports for Low-Performing High Schools

State required to provide written warning?

No

State or other entity required to provide technical assistance?

Yes

State required to provide additional funding to low-performing school?

No

Low-performing school required to create and implement improvement plan?

No

Does another entity, such as the state, have to create an improvement plan for a low-performing school?

Yes, the State Department of Education is to provide assistance in developing improvement plans.

Sources

Notification: IDAPA 08.02.03.113

Illinois

Notification and Supports for Low-Performing High Schools

State required to provide written warning?

No

State or other entity required to provide technical assistance?

Yes

State required to provide additional funding to low-performing school?

No, the low-performing school that fails to make reasonable progress may suffer loss of state funds.

Low-performing school required to create and implement improvement plan?

Yes

Does another entity, such as the state, have to create an improvement plan for a low-performing school?

If the low-performing school does not make adequate progress for five consecutive years, the district must develop a restructuring plan. State requires parents and outside experts be included in the development of all revised school improvement plans.

State required to provide additional funding to low-performing school?

No

Low-performing school required to create and implement improvement plan?

Yes, after initially being designated as low-performing.

Does another entity, such as the state, have to create an improvement plan for a low-performing school?

Yes, if the school continues to be low-performing the school district creates an improvement plan.

Sources

Notification: Iowa Admin. Code r. 281-12.8(4)

Kansas

Notification and Supports for Low-Performing High Schools

State required to provide written warning?

Yes, and the warning is to include a statement of the reasons for the warning.

State or other entity required to provide technical assistance?

Yes. A school-selected "external technical assistance team," a group of persons appointed by the state department to assist schools in meeting established performance and quality criteria, advises the school on issues of school improvement, curricula, instruction, student performance and other accreditation matters.

State required to provide additional funding to low-performing school?

No

Low-performing school required to create and implement improvement plan?

Yes, after initially being designated as low-performing.

Does another entity, such as the state, have to create an improvement plan for a low-performing school?

No; however, the school improvement plan developed by the school must be approved by the state technical assistance team assigned to the school.

State required to provide additional funding to low-performing school?

No, the school may apply for additional funding through the school improvement fund which was designed to assist local schools in pursuing new and innovative strategies to meet the educational needs of the school's students and raise the school's performance level.

Low-performing school required to create and implement improvement plan?

Yes

Does another entity, such as the state, have to create an improvement plan for a low-performing school?

No, the local board revises the improvement plan provided for the district, with the assistance of the department of education.

Sources

Notification: KY. REV. STAT. ANN. § 158.658

Louisiana

Notification and Supports for Low-Performing High Schools

State required to provide written warning?

Yes

State or other entity required to provide technical assistance?

Yes, a district assistance team is assigned to assist the school with needs assessment and in analyzing the data to determine strengths, weaknesses, goals and objectives. A revised school improvement plan is produced.

State required to provide additional funding to low-performing school?

No

Low-performing school required to create and implement improvement plan?

Yes, with input from the state department of education.

Does another entity, such as the state, have to create an improvement plan for a low-performing school?

The district assistance team creates the plan.

Sources

Notification: LA. ADMIN. CODE tit. 28 § 14-17

Maine

Notification and Supports for Low-Performing High Schools

State required to provide written warning?

Yes

State or other entity required to provide technical assistance?

Yes, once the need has been identified, the commissioner assigns a team with expertise in the areas of need to assist the unit in planning for improved student performance, for a period of not less than one year.

State required to provide additional funding to low-performing school?

No

Low-performing school required to create and implement improvement plan?

Yes

Does another entity, such as the state, have to create an improvement plan for a low-performing school?

No

Sources

Notification: CODE ME. R. §§ 05-071 CH. 138, 05-071 CH. 127

Maryland

Notification and Supports for Low-Performing High Schools

State required to provide written warning?

Yes

State or other entity required to provide technical assistance?

Yes

State required to provide additional funding to low-performing school?

No

Low-performing school required to create and implement improvement plan?

Yes

Does another entity, such as the state, have to create an improvement plan for a low-performing school?

State required to provide additional funding to low-performing school?

No

Low-performing school required to create and implement improvement plan?

Yes

Does another entity, such as the state, have to create an improvement plan for a low-performing school?

No

Sources

Notification: MINN. STAT. §§ 120B.31, 120B.35

Mississippi

Notification and Supports for Low-Performing High Schools

State required to provide written warning?

Yes

State or other entity required to provide technical assistance?

Yes

State required to provide additional funding to low-performing school?

No

Low-performing school required to create and implement improvement plan?

Yes, with assistance from an assigned evaluation team.

Does another entity, such as the state, have to create an improvement plan for a low-performing school?

Following evaluation by a trained team and a public meeting on the results of the evaluation, the department of education and the evaluation team leader assist the school in the development of a school improvement plan.

State required to provide additional funding to low-performing school?

Yes

Low-performing school required to create and implement improvement plan?

Yes

Does another entity, such as the state, have to create an improvement plan for a low-performing school?

No

Sources

Notification: WASH. REV. CODE §§ 28A.655.130, 28A.655.140

West Virginia

Notification and Supports for Low-Performing High Schools

State required to provide written warning?

Yes

State or other entity required to provide technical assistance?

Yes

State required to provide additional funding to low-performing school?

No

Low-performing school required to create and implement improvement plan?

Yes, after initially being designated as low-performing.

Does another entity, such as the state, have to create an improvement plan for a low-performing school?

Yes, if performance decreases and the school is given temporary accreditation status, the county board must ensure that the school's unified improvement plan is revised to increase the performance and progress of the school.

Sources

Notification: W. VA. CODE § 18-2E-5, W.VA. CODE ST. R. § 126 CSR 13-8

Wisconsin

Notification and Supports for Low-Performing High Schools

State required to provide written warning?

Yes

State or other entity required to provide technical assistance?

Yes

State required to provide additional funding to low-performing school?

No

Low-performing school required to create and implement improvement plan?

Yes, after initially being designated as low-performing.

Does another entity, such as the state, have to create an improvement plan for a low-performing school?

Yes, if the school continues to be low-performing, the district provides a peer review process for the school.

State required to provide additional funding to low-performing school?

No

Low-performing school required to create and implement improvement plan?

Yes

Does another entity, such as the state, have to create an improvement plan for a low-performing school?

Yes, if the school continues to be low-performing, they must obtain "broad-based involvement of parents, school staff and others" in reviewing and revising the school improvement plan to address identified issues and obtain district approval of the revised plan.

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